Can opener and spout



Jan. 22, 1935. J. F. MORAN 1,988,854

CAN OPENER AND SPOUT Filed Feb. 15, 1934 Snnentor Joseph EMoran.

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER AND SPOUT Joseph F. Moran, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut Application February 15, 1934, Serial No. '711,306.

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-23) This invention relates to can spouts adapted tin can as it appears when the spout has been to be punched through the top of a metal can removed, and showing the two semi-circular containing a liquid, and more particularly to a holes pierced therein by the insertion of said can spout of the above nature having interspout.

locking and non-leaking engagement with the Referring now 'to the drawing in which like 5 top of the can. reference numerals denote corresponding parts One object of this inventionis to provide a throughout the several views, the numeral 10 can spout of the above nature having a pair of indicates a tubular body or spout preferably curved cutter blades which are adapted to cut cylindrical, and having the major portion of its 10 a pair of opposed semi-circular adjacent openouter surface roughened by means of longitu- 10 ings in the top surface of the can, leaving a dinal ribs 11 to provide a secure hand-gripping cross-rib or bridge interposed between said opensurface thereon. The lower end of the tubular ing spout is provided with a pair of opposed inte- A further object is to provide a can opener gral projecting cutting knives 12, 12, each of spout of the above nature in which there is said knives 12, 12 having a longitudinal vertical 15 provided a pair of inwardly extending spaced straight edge 13 parallel with the spout axis, and alined wings on the interior of the spout member a helical cutting edge 14 inclined at a sharp which are adapted to force the two sections of angle to said straight edge for producing a sharp metal cut out by the cutters downwardly into point 15. By means of this construction, when a vertical position so as not to obstruct the flow the device is forcibly inserted in the top 16 of a 20 of the liquid from said can. can 17, a pair of semi-circular lug portions 18 A further object is to provide a can spout of are cut out from the metal thereof, leaving the above nature with a removable cap which apertures 19 separated by a bridging member 20 covers the pouring end of the spout when the therebetween.

spout is assembled to a can, and the liquid is In order to force the lugs 18 out of the aper- 25 not being poured, and which cap also serves to tures 19 during the can piercing operation, proprotect the sharp cutters of the spout when the vision is made of a curved band 21 having a spout is not in use. pair of inwardly extending alined spaced cam A further object is to provide a device of the lugs 21a, 21a, as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower above nature which will be simple in construcadjacent corners of the lugs 21a, 210, are formed 30 tion, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install with rounded edges 22, 22, which, when the and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearspout is being inserted within the cam top, are ance, and very efficient and durable in use. adapted to bear against the two lug portions 18,

With these and other objects in view there and forcibly bend them downwardly into a vertihas been illustrated on the accompanying drawcal position, thus leaving the apertures 19 un- 85 ing, one form in which the invention may be obstructed. conveniently embodied in practice. To lock the can spout upon the can top in a In the drawing: hermetically sealed condition, the base sections Fi 1 represents Perspective V Of a can of the cutter knives 12 are provided with a pair opener spout as it appears when placed on the of oppositely extending transverse 1 1 23, 23, top of a can, prior to the piercing operation. which extend inwardly from the upper ends of m 2 ,9 0f the same y, m the vertical edges 13 of said knives 12, and which iii zgg' i z i m fully assembled posmon are adapted when the spout is partially rotated,

to embrace the unsevered connecting necks 24, Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary sectional view, taken 24 at the ends of the bridging member 20.,

on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, of the cutting end of the spout when turned 90 degrees from the For preventmg f' dunng Poems 15mm section of Fig. 2. the can spout, a horizontal annular flange 25 is Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in elevation f secured to the exterior of the spout adjacent the the cutting end of the spout, showing the removupper ends 01 the knives 12, The flange 5 50 able cap fitted over the cutting knives, said cap has an integral neck band 26 which is adapted to being shown in section. be soldered to the outer surface of said spout. A Fig. 5 is an end view of the cutting end of the suitable packing washer 2'7 is positioned undercan spout. neath the annular flange 25, and is adapted to Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a be compressed between said flange 25 and the 58 top surface 16 of the can 17 to form a tight seal therebetween.

When the spout 10 has been inserted in the can top, but is not being used for pouring purleaving a narrow bridge between said wings, a pair of radial lugs located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly, exterior packing means adapted to engage the top of said poses, the open end of said spout may be sealed can located adjacent said knives and surrounding by means of a cylindrical slip cap or cover 28, which is detachably fitted over the pouring end of said spout 10, as shown in Figs; 1 and 2. When the spout 10 is detached from the can,'the cover 28 may be reversed and slipped over the cutting knives 12, 12 of the spout 10, as shown in Fig. 4 to serve as a protective guard for the same. The cover cap has a domed head 29 adapted to fit the hand of the user when forcing the spout into the can top, and protect it from being cut by the end of the spout.

Operation In operation, when it is desired to open a can, the cover cap 28 will first be removed from the cutting knives 12, and slipped over the opposite or pouring end of said spout. With the cover 28 thus assembled, the spout 10 may then be placed on the top of the can 17 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Force will then be applied to the spout, causing the points 15, 15 of the cutting knives 12, 12 to puncture the top surface 16 of the can. The spout will then be swung back and forth in such a manner as to cause the knives 12, 12 to cut out the pair of opposed openings 19 in the can top 16, as shown in Fig. 6. When the spout 10 has been pushed inwardly as far as it will go, as permitted by the flange 25, the spout will be twisted in a clockwise direction to firmly interlock the necks 24 of the bridge 20 in the slots 23 and hermetically seal the spout upon the top of the can 17. The can is then ready for pouringthe liquid through the spout.

In order to detach the spout from the can after. the desired quantity of liquid has been poured out, it is only necessary to twist the spout in a counter-clockwise direction until the slots 23, 23 are clear of the necks 24, 24 of the bridge member 20, and then pull straight out on the spout 10.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. 'In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair of depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair of curved wings from the fiat top of a can leaving a narrow bridge between said wings, means located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly, exterior packing means adapted to engage the top of said can locatcdadiacent said knives and surrounding said spout. said bridge having interlocking engagement with said spout member to hold it in rigid detachable position on said can.

2. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair 0! depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair-of curvedwings from thefiat topof acan said spout, said bridge having interlocking engagement with said spout member to hold it in rigid detachable position on said can.

3. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair of depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair of curved wings from the fiat top of a can leaving a narrow bridge between said wings, means located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly, said bridge having interlocking engagement with said spout member to hold it in rigid detachable position on said can.

4. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair of depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair of curved wings from the fiat top of a can leaving a narrow bridge between said wings, means located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly, exterior packing means adapted to engage the top of said can located adjacent said knives and surrounding said spout, the base of said cutters having slots to fit under said bridge member when said spout is rotated after being inserted to its full depth in said can top.

5. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair of depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair of curved wings from the flat top of a can leaving a narrow bridge between said wings, a pair of alined radial lugs located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly, exterior packing means adapted to engage the top of said can located adjacent said knives and surrounding said spout, said bridge having interlocking engagement with said spout member to hold it in rigid detachable position on said can.

6. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member, a pair of opposed cutting arcuate knives formed integral with one end of said member, each of said knives having a straight longitudinal edge 'and a helical edge converging to form a sharp point, whereby when said knives are forced downwardly into a can top, a pair of opposed semi-circular wings will be cut therefrom leaving a narrow intermediate bridge therebetween, an annular flange plate surrounding said spout above the roots of said cutting knives, a packing washer positioned under said flange, said cutting knives having a pair of transverse slots cut inwardly from the upper ends of said straight edges and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the under part of said bridge when the device is rotated after said cutters have been inserted to their full depth in said can top, the relative position of said slots and said flange being such that said washer will be tightly compressed between the can top and the annular flange of said spout when in assembled position.

7. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member, a pair of opposed cutting arcuate knives formed integral with one end of said member, each of said knives having a straight longitudinal edge and a helical edge converging to form a sharp point, whereby when said knives are forced downwardly into a can top, a pair of opposed semi-circular wings will be cut therefrom leaving a narrow intermediate bridge'therebetween, an annular flange plate surrounding said spout above the roots of said cutting knives, a packing washer positioned under said flange, said cutting knives having a pair of transverse slots cut inwardly from the upper ends of said straight edges and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the under part of said bridge when the device is rotated after said cutters have been inserted to their full depth in said can top, the relative position of said slots and said flange being such that said washer will be tightly compressed between the can top and the annular flange of said spout when in assembled position.

8. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member having a pair of depending semi-circular cutters adapted to pierce a pair of curved wings from the flat top of a can leaving a narrow bridge between said wings, a pair of radial lugs having curved bottom edges for engagement with said wings located between said cutters for forcing said wings downwardly,

exterior packing means adapted to engage the.

top of said can located adjacent said knives and surrounding said spout, said bridge having interlocking engagement with said spout member to hold it in rigid detachable position on said can.

9. In a combination can opener and spout, a tubular spout member, a pair of opposed arcuate cutter knives at one end of said member, each of said knives having a straight longitudinal edge and a curved edge converging to form a sharp point, whereby when said knives are forced downwardly into a. can top a pair of opposed semi-circular wings will be cut therefrom leaving a narrow intermediate bridge therebetween, an annular flange plate surrounding said spout member above the roots of said cutter knives, said cutter knives having a pair of transverse slots extending inwardly from the upper ends of said straight edges and adapted to have interlocking engagement with the under part of said bridge when the device is rotated after said cutters have been inserted to their 20 

